Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)

El mangosteen it is a tropical tree that has many uses. From the image you can see that it gives shade and that it has an elegant bearing, but it also produces edible fruits that are delicious, fresh and as a drink.

If you want to know everything about it, its characteristics, its care, and much, much more, here you have the file of one of the most interesting trees for warm climates.

Origin and characteristics

Our protagonist is an evergreen tree native to the Malay Archipelago and the Moluccas Islands of Indonesia. Its scientific name is garcinia mangostana, but popularly it is known as mangosteen, Indian jobo or mangosteen. It is a plant that reaches a size of 7 to 25 meters in height by 9-12m in diameter.

Its crown is rounded, very dense and compact, formed by opposite, large leaves, elliptical-oval in shape, and a short, acuminate apex. The fruit has a reddish purple rind when ripe; and its flesh or pulp is fragrant, with a taste between sweet and sour, and with a texture similar to that of peaches.

Despite its common name, it has nothing to do with the mango (magnifera indica).

What are their cares?

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Climate

Before buying a plant it is important that we find out if it can live well in our area, as this will avoid problems. In the case of mangosteen, can be grown outside only in warm climates without frostIf it drops below 4ºC in winter, it won't survive. You can find out more about tropical trees that are suitable for similar climates.

Location

• Exterior: in full sun or in semi-shade.
• Interior: in a room with plenty of natural light.

Earth

• Flower pot: a universal growing substrate mixed with 30% perlite. You can get the first and the second.
• Garden: the garden soil must be acidic, fertile, loose, with good drainage.

Irrigation

Irrigation has to be frequentas it does not tolerate drought. The frequency will vary depending on the location as well as the season of the year in which we are, but in general it will be necessary to water about 3 times a week in summer and every 3-4 days the rest of the year. Use rainwater or lime-free.

If the area receives between 2000 and 2500 mm of rain per year and it is well distributed, it will not be necessary to irrigate. tropical fruit trees They also require attention to their irrigation.

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Guano powder.

It is very important to pay from early spring to late summer with ecological fertilizers, organic. In case of having it in a pot, we will use liquid products so that the water drainage continues to be good.

Planting or transplanting time

The best time to plant it is in spring (or at the end of the dry season if the climate is tropical). If you have it in a pot, we will repot it every two years. For more information on the right time, consult what is the best time to sow.

Multiplication

The mangosteen multiplies by seeds as soon as they have been extracted from the fruit. The step by step to follow is the following:

1. The first thing we will do is clean the seeds well, conscientiously. For this we will use water and a cloth, or else a scouring pad to remove all traces of the flesh of the fruit.
2. Afterwards, we will take pots with a diameter of 10,5 cm and fill them with substrate.
3. Then, we water and place a maximum of two seeds in each one.
4. Next, we cover the seeds with a thin layer of substrate and water again, this time with a sprayer.
5. Finally, we place the pots outside, in semi-shade.

Keeping the earth always moist -but not flooded-, will germinate in a month or two.

Pruning

No need to prune. With the passage of time it acquires its magnificent bearing. Only if there were some branches that hindered the path a little could it be cut towards the end of the dry season, with an appropriate pruning tool (pruning shears if it is thin, saw if it is thick) previously disinfected with pharmacy alcohol.

Plagues and diseases

Mangosteen it is a quite resistant tree, but if the growing conditions are not adequate it can become vulnerable to the attack of mealybugs, trips, aphids o Red spider that can be fought with diatomaceous earth or with specific insecticides following the instructions on the packaging. For more details, please consult What is garcinia?.

Uses

Ornamental

It is a very decorative plant, which provides shade and looks great in any tropical garden. With minimal care, we can enjoy it for many, many years.

Culinary

Once peeled, the fruits can be consumed as a dessert or can be used to make drinks. They are very nutritious since they are rich in vitamins B and C, they also provide us with fiber, calcium, phosphorus and potassium.

Medicinal

It is used as a medicinal plant because it has different uses and properties: It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, slimming, energizing, digestiveAs if that weren't enough, it is used to treat allergies, skin problems, and respiratory and nervous system diseases.

And that's it. What did you think of mangosteen? Have you heard of it? I hope you found everything you've read about it interesting. 